German-Iranian Women’s Rights Activist Released from Iranian Prison

09 January 2024, Iran, Tehran: German-Iranian Nahid Taghavi sits on a couch after her temporary release from the notorious Ewin prison in Tehran. (dpa)
09 January 2024, Iran, Tehran: German-Iranian Nahid Taghavi sits on a couch after her temporary release from the notorious Ewin prison in Tehran. (dpa)
TT

German-Iranian Women’s Rights Activist Released from Iranian Prison

09 January 2024, Iran, Tehran: German-Iranian Nahid Taghavi sits on a couch after her temporary release from the notorious Ewin prison in Tehran. (dpa)
09 January 2024, Iran, Tehran: German-Iranian Nahid Taghavi sits on a couch after her temporary release from the notorious Ewin prison in Tehran. (dpa)

Nahid Taghavi, an Iranian-German women's rights activist, has been released from prison and is back in Germany after more than four years incarceration in Iran, Amnesty International said on Monday.

The release of Taghavi followed concerns about the 70-year-old's health and calls from rights groups on the German government to pressure Tehran on the case.

Taghavi was detained in October 2020 during a visit to Tehran and later sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison for her alleged involvement in an illegal group and for propaganda against the state. Amnesty called the charges fabricated

"My mum is finally home. Words are not enough to describe our joy. At the same time, we mourn the four years we were robbed of and the horror she experienced in Evin prison," her daughter Mariam Claren said in a statement.

The rights group said Taghavi was tortured during her time in prison and held in solitary confinement.

The activist landed safely in Germany on Sunday, Amnesty said, calling for many more releases to follow in Iran.

Iran's judiciary was not immediately available for comment.

"A great moment of joy that Nahid Taghavi can finally embrace her family again," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a post on X.

Germany has clashed with Iran in the past over its jailing of dual citizens and criticized its human rights record. In October, Berlin recalled its ambassador to Iran over the execution of German-Iranian national Jamshid Sharmahd.

Last week Iran freed Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, three weeks after she was detained in Tehran during a reporting trip.



Iran Seeks De-escalation with Europe Ahead of Trump’s Inauguration

People walk while shopping in a street in Tehran, Iran, 13 January 2025. Iranians are facing an economic crisis that, due to recent tension between Iran, Israel, and the US, has extended. (EPA)
People walk while shopping in a street in Tehran, Iran, 13 January 2025. Iranians are facing an economic crisis that, due to recent tension between Iran, Israel, and the US, has extended. (EPA)
TT

Iran Seeks De-escalation with Europe Ahead of Trump’s Inauguration

People walk while shopping in a street in Tehran, Iran, 13 January 2025. Iranians are facing an economic crisis that, due to recent tension between Iran, Israel, and the US, has extended. (EPA)
People walk while shopping in a street in Tehran, Iran, 13 January 2025. Iranians are facing an economic crisis that, due to recent tension between Iran, Israel, and the US, has extended. (EPA)

Iran has released European detainees in an apparent bid to reduce tensions with European powers. This move coincides with the start of a second round of closed-door talks aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.

The timing comes just days before US President Donald Trump, known for his “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran, was set to begin his second term.

European diplomats from France, Germany, and the UK met with their Iranian counterparts to address disputes and attempt to break the deadlock in nuclear negotiations. These talks follow a secret meeting two months ago in Geneva, which ended without progress.

Western nations remain alarmed by Iran’s nuclear advancements. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports that Iran is the only country enriching uranium to 60% purity, close to weapons-grade levels, far beyond what is needed for civilian purposes.

Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, claiming its program is peaceful. However, Western powers argue there is no legitimate reason for enrichment at such high levels unless it aims to produce nuclear weapons.

With negotiations stalling, both sides face growing pressure to find a diplomatic solution and avoid further escalation.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry clarified that the ongoing discussions are “consultations,” not formal negotiations.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the talks, expected to last several days, will address a wide range of issues. He added that Iran’s main goal is to lift sanctions, while also listening to concerns raised by other parties.

France’s Foreign Ministry called the meeting a sign of European commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program, which remains a major concern due to its rapid progress.

The talks come as Iran faces growing regional challenges, including Israeli strikes on its allies Hamas and Hezbollah, and the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a key partner in the region.

Iran hopes these efforts will help ease tensions and improve its standing with Europe as diplomatic pressure mounts.